By James Royal, Ph.D., Bankrate.com
It’s the dream of many to become a millionaire, and even those with just a little dough to start can achieve this goal with careful planning. While selecting the right investments is important, one other factor is still more important if you’re starting out with a relatively small nest egg: time.
With natural disasters and homeowners insurance costs making headlines, many homeowners may find themselves dwelling on “what-ifs.” In at least one area, turning that anxiety into action could help ease some concerns.
A bill that would have made windstorm coverage by Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. available to anyone who wants it has been withdrawn from being considered during the just-started legislative session.
Rep. Hillary Cassel, who filed the 143-page bill in December, withdrew it last Friday on the eve of the session, which started on Tuesday.
During a brief phone interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Cassel said she is “working with the speaker’s office on continuing the conversation about that bill.”
The concept requires “in-depth analysis” beyond what can be laid out in a legislative bill, she said.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, co-sponsor of the bill with South Florida-based representatives Christine Hunschofsky and Marie Paule Woodson, said she understood that the bill was withdrawn while Cassel requests funding for a feasibility study, possibly in conjunction with Florida State University.
“This is a good bill and an important step in addressing Florida’s property insurance crisis, and there is bipartisan agreement to that point too,” said Eskamani, who represents a section of eastern Orange County. “My understanding is that steps are being taken to further study the policy concepts within the bill, and I will do my part to ensure that the state moves in the direction of providing universal storm coverage for our constituents.”
Firefly Aerospace released video Tuesday showing the historic touchdown of its Blue Ghost lunar lander.
The Cedar Park, Texas-based commercial company was making its first trip to the moon with help from NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
While fellow Texas company Intuitive Machines managed a soft landing in 2024 under the program, that company’s lander named Odysseus tipped to one side, and NASA was not able to glean as much from its on-board experiments as it could have had the lander stayed upright.
Blue Ghost did just that, nailing the landing early Sunday to begin a 14-day mission with 10 NASA payloads on board that will remain active during the lunar day.
The released video shows the spacecraft as it maneuvered away from surface hazards that were identified during its descent from lunar orbit.
The company stated the lander touched down within the planned target radius located in Mare Crisium, which is in the northeast quadrant of the face of the moon as seen from the northern hemisphere.
By MARÍA VERZA and MEGAN JANETSKY
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Tuesday the country will respond to the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, with details to come.
Mexico will announce the targeted products and other measures Sunday at an event in Mexico City’s central plaza, a delay that suggests Mexico hopes to de-escalate the trade war set off by U.S. President Donald Trump.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said she and Trump had agreed to have a call this week, most likely Thursday, “so we are going to wait.” Mexico’s government has said since January it had a plan ready for this scenario.
“There is no motive or reason, nor justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and our nations,” Sheinbaum added.
China and Canada responded immediately with measures Tuesday.
Some 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, part of more than $800 billion in trade between the countries last year.
Sheinbaum called “offensive, defamatory and without support” the White House allegations that Mexican drug traffickers persist because of “an intolerable relationship” with the Mexican government. Trump has said he’s targeting Mexico to force it to crack down on migrants and drugs entering the U.S.